Does Microsoft even need to build a better Xbox?

Has the video-game industry hit a plateau? Is there even a reason to make better consoles? Are the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 the end of the line?

Frank Gibeau, president of the EA label at gaming giant Electronic Arts, says it’s hard to imagine how Sony and Microsoft could improve upon their current game consoles. In an interview with ComputerAndVideoGames.com, he said EA is not itching for a “PlayStation 4” or “Xbox 720.”

“It’s hard for me to conceive what you would do on a PlayStation 4,” Gibeau told CVG. “The displays are already 1080p, you’re already connected to the Internet. … You could make it faster, you could have more polys and you could up the graphics a little bit … but at what cost?”

Indeed – look at some gameplay video from “Forza Motorsport 4,” coming out in October for Xbox 360. The racing game is nearly photo-realistic. It supports Kinect, the new Xbox 360 motion sensor, for voice commands and “looking around” inside your virtual car. And, like most games these days, it will be updated on a regular basis through the Internet.

Of course, there are always improvements to be made. But there’s also room in the Xbox 360 and PS3 for those improvements, Gibeau said.

“One of the things that we like is that the technology is consistent, and we believe that there are still things that you can do on these systems,” he told CVG. “We haven’t quite squeezed the last ounce of hardware horsepower out of these things.”

Microsoft has already said it plans to keep the Xbox 360 around for a while. First released in November 2005, it’s been refreshed a few times – Microsoft has released different versions with different storage capacities, and last year released the Xbox 360 S with a new motherboard, Wi-Fi support and a dedicated Kinect port (though Kinect still works with older 360 models).

At six years old, the Xbox 360 is ancient for video-game consoles … at least traditionally. But no longer are we in the days of fast-paced hardware upgrades.

The original Nintendo Entertainment System, for instance, was released in North America in 1985, followed by the Super Nintendo in 1991, the Nintendo 64 in 1996, the GameCube in 2001 and the Wii in 2006. Meanwhile, Sega released the Sega Master System to the U.S. in 1987, the Genesis in 1989, the Genesis CD add-on in 1992, the Saturn in 1995 and the Dreamcast in 1999.

Sony entered the race in 1995 with the first PlayStation and released the PlayStation 2 in 2000. In a controversial move, Microsoft jumped into the foray in 2002 with the first Xbox. The Xbox 360 came in 2005 and the PS3 was released in 2006.

At that cadence, the big three — Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo — would be releasing a next-generation console anytime now. But only Nintendo, whose Wii changed the industry with motion control but is now far outdated (it doesn’t even have high-definition video output), is refreshing its hardware with the Wii U, expected to launch in 2012.

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Let's start in 1985 with the third generation of gaming consoles. The original Nintendo Entertainment System brought mainstream gaming into the living room when it was released in the U.S. that year (1983 in Japan). The 8-bit system paved the way for today's console wars. less

Let's start in 1985 with the third generation of gaming consoles. The original Nintendo Entertainment System brought mainstream gaming into the living room when it was released in the U.S. that year (1983 in ... more

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The 8-bit Sega Master System, released in Japan in 1985 and worldwide in 1987, brought about the intense Nintendo versus Sega battle.

The 8-bit Sega Master System, released in Japan in 1985 and worldwide in 1987, brought about the intense Nintendo versus Sega battle.

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The Sega Genesis, released in Japan as the Mega Drive in 1988, was the first major 16-bit system. It came to the U.S. in 1989. The Genesis is seen here with the Sega CD add-on.

The Sega Genesis, released in Japan as the Mega Drive in 1988, was the first major 16-bit system. It came to the U.S. in 1989. The Genesis is seen here with the Sega CD add-on.

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The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, known better as the Super Nintendo, was released in Japan in 1990 and to the U.S. in 1991.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, known better as the Super Nintendo, was released in Japan in 1990 and to the U.S. in 1991.

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The Sega Saturn was the first major console with a 32-bit processor, and was the company's last relatively successful release as Sony moved into the market. The Saturn was released in 1994 in Japan and to the U.S. in 1995. less

The Sega Saturn was the first major console with a 32-bit processor, and was the company's last relatively successful release as Sony moved into the market. The Saturn was released in 1994 in Japan and to the ... more

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The first PlayStation, released in 1994 in Japan and 1995 in the U.S., was a smash hit -- the best-selling console of the fifth generation (32-bit era).

The first PlayStation, released in 1994 in Japan and 1995 in the U.S., was a smash hit -- the best-selling console of the fifth generation (32-bit era).

Photo:

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The Nintendo 64, released in 1996, was the first console with a 64-bit processor. While the most technologically advanced of the fifth generation, game data was limited by the cartridge. The compact disc media used by Sony's PlayStation and Sega's Saturn were more friendly to game developers. less

The Nintendo 64, released in 1996, was the first console with a 64-bit processor. While the most technologically advanced of the fifth generation, game data was limited by the cartridge. The compact disc media ... more

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The Sega Dreamcast kicked off the sixth generation of video-game consoles with its 1998 release in Japan (1999 in the U.S.). But it was soon to be overshadowed by the Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox. less

The Sega Dreamcast kicked off the sixth generation of video-game consoles with its 1998 release in Japan (1999 in the U.S.). But it was soon to be overshadowed by the Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and ... more

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The Sony PlayStation 2 still holds the title of best-selling console ever. Released in 2000, it was the star of the sixth generation, and can still be found in millions of living rooms today.

The Sony PlayStation 2 still holds the title of best-selling console ever. Released in 2000, it was the star of the sixth generation, and can still be found in millions of living rooms today.

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Nintendo's GameCube was the company's first to use a game disc. Released in 2001, it was outsold by a newcomer to the market ...

Nintendo's GameCube was the company's first to use a game disc. Released in 2001, it was outsold by a newcomer to the market ...

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Microsoft released the original Xbox in 2001 and caught on with the first "Halo" game. Microsoft was heavily criticized for attempting to jump into a market dominated by Nintendo and Sony, but the move eventually paid off. less

Microsoft released the original Xbox in 2001 and caught on with the first "Halo" game. Microsoft was heavily criticized for attempting to jump into a market dominated by Nintendo and Sony, but the move ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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The Xbox 360 was the first of the seventh-generation (current) consoles. Released in 2005, it raised the bar for video gaming. The Xbox 360 is still going strong, with Microsoft choosing to focus on upgrades in software and services rather than hardware. Its expected lifetime is about 10 years. less

The Xbox 360 was the first of the seventh-generation (current) consoles. Released in 2005, it raised the bar for video gaming. The Xbox 360 is still going strong, with Microsoft choosing to focus on upgrades ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Nintendo released the Wii in 2006 and changed the industry. It was built around a motion-sensing system and proved popular among not just core gamers, but the everyday consumer. It is the best-selling console of the current generation, though the Xbox 360 is gaining ground. less

Nintendo released the Wii in 2006 and changed the industry. It was built around a motion-sensing system and proved popular among not just core gamers, but the everyday consumer. It is the best-selling console ... more

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Sony released the PlayStation 3 in 2006 as a strong contender to the Xbox 360, though its sales have trailed both Microsoft's and Nintendo. Like Microsoft, Sony has been focusing on software and services updates instead of hardware. less

Sony released the PlayStation 3 in 2006 as a strong contender to the Xbox 360, though its sales have trailed both Microsoft's and Nintendo. Like Microsoft, Sony has been focusing on software and services ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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To catch up to the Nintendo Wii, Sony released the PlayStation Move motion controller in the fall of 2010, just beating Microsoft's Kinect to market. But the accessory, which requires the PlayStation Eye to function, has not caught on like Kinect. less

To catch up to the Nintendo Wii, Sony released the PlayStation Move motion controller in the fall of 2010, just beating Microsoft's Kinect to market. But the accessory, which requires the PlayStation Eye to ... more

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Microsoft's Kinect motion sensor, seen at left of the newer Xbox 360 S model, has breathed new life into the console. The Xbox has outsold the competition every month since the accessory's release, and Microsoft plans to ride its success for the next few years. less

Microsoft's Kinect motion sensor, seen at left of the newer Xbox 360 S model, has breathed new life into the console. The Xbox has outsold the competition every month since the accessory's release, and ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Does Microsoft even need to build a better Xbox?

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Microsoft and Sony are holding tight until around 2015, it seems — a 10-year lifespan. But that doesn’t mean the Xbox 360 and PS3 aren’t evolving. Nowadays, big upgrades are more often coming in the form of software updates and accessories such as Kinect and Sony’s motion controller, the PS Move.

“You essentially get a new console every year,” Xbox spokesman David Dennis told seattlepi.com.

One big reason is we’ve gotten to a point that the hardware is sufficiently powerful for what we want to do. Even with consoles that are a half-decade old, Sony and Microsoft are still managing to push the video-game industry forward.

And with services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, the PlayStation Network and the Xbox Marketplace, they are beginning to have a profound effect on the television industry, as well. No longer are the Xbox 360 and PS3 purely for gaming; they are also for living-room entertainment. (And it doesn’t seem to matter that the Xbox won’t play Blu-ray.)

“There’s nothing out there that consumers are dying to do on an Xbox that they can’t already do right now,” Dennis said. “The silver bullets, the winning differentiators for us are Kinect and Xbox Live.”

Of course, the next generation of consoles will be able to do things we can’t even fathom today. New hardware will inevitably come and video games will inevitably improve. I mean, we’ve gotta get a “Star Trek” Holodeck at some point, right? Right?

Someday. But for now, it seems as though the Xbox 360 and PS3 — especially with Kinect and Move — are just coming into their own.

“I’d like to see the cycle last a little longer,” Gibeau told CVG. “I don’t see consumers right now banging on the walls for a new platform. They seem to be very happy with their PS3s and 360s. They love the online connectivity, they have great communities and great libraries.”